Elderly man falls 30 feet; airlifted to Syracuse Medical
NORWICH – Emergency crews rushed to the scene of an accident Wednesday after a 70-year-old man fell 30 feet while setting up a tree stand.
The 70-year-old hunter and his wife were in the woods over half a mile from Wheeler Avenue in the Town of Norwich when the accident took place. The elderly man was setting up his hunting platform about 28 feet above the ground when he slipped and fell at around 1:55 p.m.
The extent of the man’s injuries is unknown, but emergency crews reported he suffered head injuries and was having convulsions.
His wife was forced to leave the scene on the couple’s four-wheeler to get help and responders had a difficult time getting back to the area.
The helicopter lifted off from the Norwich fairgrounds after Norwich EMS and firefighters transported the victim on a John Deere EMS Gator from the wooded area to a waiting ambulance.
Norwich Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo said the department could not release any information about the victim, but said he was evacuated by Mercy Flight Helicopter to Syracuse Medical where his condition is unknown.
Chawgo said crews responded to six different emergency calls in the same two hour time frame yesterday, including two car accidents and three other medical emergencies.
“It’s that time of year when hunters will be heading out into the woods and people need to take safety precautions,” said the chief.
Chawgo recommended some safety tips for hunters and outdoorsmen.
“The buddy system is a good start, and if it wasn’t for the victim’s wife being there, it could’ve been a lot worse. But if you’re going to be off the ground, you should use a harness,” he said.
“Any higher than your own height,” added Norwich Fire Captain Michael Ford.
Chawgo said that if a person is alone, they should let someone else know “where they are and when they’ll be back.”
“Including a map of where your stand is or the area of where you’ll be is a good idea,” said Ford.
Firefighters said a communication device, a radio or some other connection with outside world is another good precaution.
The 70-year-old hunter and his wife were in the woods over half a mile from Wheeler Avenue in the Town of Norwich when the accident took place. The elderly man was setting up his hunting platform about 28 feet above the ground when he slipped and fell at around 1:55 p.m.
The extent of the man’s injuries is unknown, but emergency crews reported he suffered head injuries and was having convulsions.
His wife was forced to leave the scene on the couple’s four-wheeler to get help and responders had a difficult time getting back to the area.
The helicopter lifted off from the Norwich fairgrounds after Norwich EMS and firefighters transported the victim on a John Deere EMS Gator from the wooded area to a waiting ambulance.
Norwich Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo said the department could not release any information about the victim, but said he was evacuated by Mercy Flight Helicopter to Syracuse Medical where his condition is unknown.
Chawgo said crews responded to six different emergency calls in the same two hour time frame yesterday, including two car accidents and three other medical emergencies.
“It’s that time of year when hunters will be heading out into the woods and people need to take safety precautions,” said the chief.
Chawgo recommended some safety tips for hunters and outdoorsmen.
“The buddy system is a good start, and if it wasn’t for the victim’s wife being there, it could’ve been a lot worse. But if you’re going to be off the ground, you should use a harness,” he said.
“Any higher than your own height,” added Norwich Fire Captain Michael Ford.
Chawgo said that if a person is alone, they should let someone else know “where they are and when they’ll be back.”
“Including a map of where your stand is or the area of where you’ll be is a good idea,” said Ford.
Firefighters said a communication device, a radio or some other connection with outside world is another good precaution.
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